EP1391849A1 - Parallel verarbeitendes Hochgeschwindigkeits-Drucksystem für ein Kuvertiersystem - Google Patents

Parallel verarbeitendes Hochgeschwindigkeits-Drucksystem für ein Kuvertiersystem Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1391849A1
EP1391849A1 EP03018693A EP03018693A EP1391849A1 EP 1391849 A1 EP1391849 A1 EP 1391849A1 EP 03018693 A EP03018693 A EP 03018693A EP 03018693 A EP03018693 A EP 03018693A EP 1391849 A1 EP1391849 A1 EP 1391849A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
print
transport
documents
printing
velocity
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Granted
Application number
EP03018693A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP1391849B1 (de
Inventor
John W. Sussmeier
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Pitney Bowes Inc
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Pitney Bowes Inc
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J13/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in short lengths, e.g. sheets
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J13/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in short lengths, e.g. sheets
    • B41J13/10—Sheet holders, retainers, movable guides, or stationary guides
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/54—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed with two or more sets of type or printing elements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42C—BOOKBINDING
    • B42C19/00—Multi-step processes for making books
    • B42C19/08—Conveying between operating stations in machines
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00467—Transporting mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00467—Transporting mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00491—Mail/envelope/insert handling system
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00516—Details of printing apparatus
    • G07B2017/00524—Printheads
    • G07B2017/00532—Inkjet

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a module for printing postage value, or other information, on an envelope in a high speed mass mail processing and inserting system.
  • the motion of the envelope is controlled to allow high envelope throughput, even if the postage printing device operates at a lower velocity than other parts of the system.
  • Inserter systems such as those applicable for use with the present invention, are typically used by organizations such as banks, insurance companies and utility companies for producing a large volume of specific mailings where the contents of each mail item are directed to a particular addressee. Also, other organizations, such as direct matters, use inserts for producing a large volume of generic mailings where the contents of each mail item are substantially identical for each addressee. Examples of such inserter systems are the 8 series and 9 series inserter systems available from Pitney Bowes Inc. of Stamford Connecticut, U.S.A.
  • the typical inserter system resembles a manufacturing assembly line. Sheets and other raw materials (other sheets, enclosures, and envelopes) enter the inserter system as inputs. Then, a plurality of different modules or workstations in the inserter system work cooperatively to process the sheets until a finished mail piece is produced. The exact configuration of each inserter system depends upon the needs of each particular customer or installation.
  • inserter systems prepare mail pieces by gathering collations of documents on a conveyor. The collations are then transported on the conveyor to an insertion station where they are automatically stuffed into envelopes. After being stuffed with the collations, the envelopes are removed from the insertion station for further processing. Such further processing may include automated closing and sealing the envelope flap, weighing the envelope, applying postage to the envelope, and finally sorting and stacking the envelopes.
  • a typical postage meter currently used with high speed mail processing systems has a mechanical print head that imprints postage indicia on envelopes being processed.
  • Such conventional postage metering technology is available on Pitney Bowes R150 and R156 mailing machines using model 6500 meters.
  • the mechanical print head is typically comprised of a rotary drum that impresses an ink image on envelopes traveling underneath.
  • throughput speed for meters is limited by considerations such as the meter's ability to calculate postage and update postage meter registers, and the speed at which ink can be applied to the envelopes. In most cases, solutions using mechanical print head technology have been found adequate for providing the desired throughput of approximately five envelopes per second to achieve 18,000 mail pieces per hour.
  • Another problem is that many existing mechanical print head machines are configured such that once an envelope is in the mailing machine, it is committed to be printed and translated to a downstream module, regardless of downstream -conditions. As a result, if there is a paper jam downstream, a conventional mailing machine could cause collateral damage. At such high rates, jams and resultant damage may be more severe than at lower speeds. Accordingly, improved control and lowered printing speed, while maintaining high throughput rate in a mechanical print head mailing machine could provide additional advantages.
  • Controlling throughput through the metering portion of a mail producing system is also a significant concern when using non-mechanical print heads.
  • Many current mailing machines use digital printing technology to print postal indicia on envelopes.
  • One form of digital printing that is commonly used for postage metering is thermal inkjet technology.
  • Thermal inkjet technology has been found to be a cost effective method for generating images at 300 dpi on material translating up to 50 inches per second.
  • thermal inkjet technology is recognized as inexpensive, it is difficult to apply to high speed mail production systems that operate on mail pieces that are typically traveling in the range of up to 80 ips in such systems.
  • the postage meters operate at a slower velocity than that of upstream and downstream modules in the system.
  • a routine is initiated within the postage meter. Once the envelope is committed within the postage meter unit, this routine is carried out without regard to conditions outside the postage meter.
  • the routine decelerates the envelope to a printing velocity. Then, the mechanical print head of the postage meters imprints an indicia on the envelope. After the indicia is printed, the envelope is accelerated back to close to the system velocity, and the envelope is transported out of the meter.
  • envelopes are transported along transport path 10 .
  • first serial mechanical mailing machine 11 When a first of a series envelopes reaches the first serial mechanical mailing machine 11 , the first envelope is decelerated for a printing operation by postage meter 14. After printing is complete, the first envelope is carried away from the first serial machine 11 via transport 12 to the second serial mechanical mailing machine 13.
  • the first envelope is typically decelerated to the print velocity. However, since an indicia -has already been printed on the first envelope, no printing operation is performed by the second postage meter 15. The first envelope is then accelerated back to the system velocity and carried out of the serial postage printing arrangement.
  • the motion control of deceleration and acceleration at the second postage meter 15 without performing a print operation is done in order to maintain the displacements of consecutive envelopes in the system. Failure to subject subsequent envelopes to the same displacements may result in one envelope catching up to the other and causing a jam.
  • a second envelope arrives at the first mailing machine 11 .
  • the second envelope is subjected to the deceleration and acceleration motion profile.
  • the first postage meter 14 may not have had time to reset to print another indicia.
  • the second envelope passes through the first mailing machine 11 without a printing operation.
  • the second envelope is then passed via transport 12 to the second mailing machine 13 where it is again decelerated to the print velocity. This time, mailing machine 13 does perform a printing operation and an indicia is printed on the second envelope by postage meter 15.
  • Mailing machine 13 then accelerates the envelope back to the system velocity, and the second envelope is carried away downstream.
  • serial mailing machines 11 and 13 In this manner, some of the shortcomings of conventional mailing machines are avoided by allowing the serial mailing machines 11 and 13 to alternately take turns printing indicia on every-other envelope.
  • One disadvantage of this serial arrangement is that it remains very sensitive to gaps sizes between consecutive envelopes. Gaps between subsequent envelopes are shortened every time a lead envelope undergoes the printing motion profile. If an error occurs in the processing to make the gap size smaller than expected, envelopes can catch-up to one another, and a paper jam can result. Also, the R150 and R156 mailing machines are a bit too long to have time to carry out printing motion profile before the arrival of the next envelope, and to still have some margin for error in the arrival of a subsequent envelope. As a result, envelopes can be passed off between sets of nips that are not going at the same speed, creating potential for pulling or buckling. Accordingly, a solution with better space utilization and that is less sensitive to gap size variation is desirable.
  • the present application describes a system and a method to control the motion of envelopes within a postage printing system to accommodate the use of slower print techniques (digital or mechanical) in attempting to achieve high throughput in a mail processing system.
  • a system according to the present invention utilizes parallel path printing using at least two postage printing devices. Using the parallel arrangement, documents may be slowed down for printing operations in the parallel paths, without risk of a subsequent document arriving before the printing operation is complete, and allowing for sufficient time to reset the postage metering devices.
  • a diverting mechanism preferably a flipper gate, alternately directs consecutive documents into separate parallel printing paths.
  • a first path directs documents to a first printing module, and a second path alternately directs every other document to a second printing module.
  • the diverter redirects the documents at oblique angles from the original transport path.
  • Documents are transported through the -diverting mechanism at the nominal system transport velocity. However, once a document comes under the control of one of the postage printing modules, it is decelerated in accordance with a predetermined motion profile. Printing is carried out at a lower print velocity. After printing is complete, documents are accelerated back to the transport velocity to exit the printing module. As a result of the parallel arrangement, a first envelope need not have completed its printing motion profile before a subsequent envelope arrives at the other postage printing device.
  • the printed documents Downstream of the postage printing modules, the printed documents are merged back into a single transport path, and are transported away for further processing.
  • the present invention may be utilized in connection with documents that are transported in horizontal or vertical orientations, or at any angle in between.
  • one print module is may be positioned above a plane of the transport path, while the other print module is positioned below.
  • the transport path may be split into left and right parallel paths, allowing print modules to be positioned side-by-side for horizontal document processing.
  • one parallel print module is located to the left of the vertical transport path, while the other is to the right of the vertical transport path.
  • print heads of the parallel print modules are geared to operate in synchronism with the print transports, such that an image will not be distorted if there is a variation in print velocity.
  • Another preferred embodiment ensures that correct displacement is maintained between subsequent envelopes under the control of the invention in the event of a stop and/or restart of the system resulting from a stoppage condition, such as an envelope jam.
  • a stoppage condition such as an envelope jam.
  • a linear uniform deceleration is preferred to minimize disruption of the desired spacing between mail pieces being processed.
  • optimal performance may require that deceleration not occur in the same uniform linear fashion as the rest of the system. Rather, deceleration is preferably controlled to maintain the relative displacement of envelopes in the postage printing modules with respect to upstream and downstream modules. Because displacements vary based on decelerations and accelerations in the print motion profile, a uniform stopping and starting of the print modules to mirror other modules will result in documents spaced differently than originally intended. Such changing in document gaps may result in further jams or misprocessing.
  • a controller for the print modules controls the displacement of the print modules according to a predetermined algorithm.
  • This algorithm relates displacements of the print modules with other modules for segments of the motion profile as they would have been executed during normal operation.
  • deceleration and acceleration of the print modules is thus controlled as a predetermined function, or set of functions, of the displacements in other transport modules. The appropriate function is determined as a result of the position of the envelope in the print modules during the course of the stoppage condition.
  • This displacement mapping functionality of the preferred embodiment operates cooperatively with the gearing of the print head mechanisms to the print transports. In that preferred embodiment, stopping and restarting of the print modules will not affect printing of images on documents, even if a printing operation had already begun at the time of the stoppage.
  • a parallel path printing system for use with parallel mailing machines 1 and 2 is depicted. This embodiment is suitable for use with pre-existing mailing machines, not necessarily designed for integration into a high speed inserting system.
  • Mailing machines 1 and 2 further comprise postage meters 21, or other suitable printing device, at a downstream end of the mailing machine transports. Postage meters 21 print indicia on the envelopes in the respective parallel printing paths, and track postal accounts.
  • All of the embodiments of the parallel path printing systems in this application may be operated for transporting envelopes in horizontal or vertical orientations, or any - angled orientation in between.
  • mailing machines 1 and 2 may be Pitney Bowes R150 or R156 mechanical mailing machines.
  • mailing machines 1 and 2 may be vertical inkjet systems similar in operation to the JetMail franking machine offered by Francotyp-Postalia AG.
  • Fig. 2 should be regarded as a side view with respect to horizontal printing mailing machines, and as a top view for vertical printing mailing machines. Otherwise, the principles of operation are the same throughout, irrespective of the angle of orientation of the document. As a practical matter, most conventional "vertical" processing mailing machines are usually inclined to some degree.
  • mailing machines 1 and 2 process horizontally oriented documents in a side-by-side arrangement.
  • an upstream path splitting module 3 includes a diverter mechanism that splits the single horizontal document transport path into two diverging horizontal transport paths.
  • An appropriate diverter mechanism may be sets of one or more nips that rotate alternately to two angled positions at oblique angles away from the original direction of travel. After the angled nips send one envelope down one path, the nips can rotate to send the subsequent envelope down the other path.
  • An advantage of the side-by-side arrangement of horizontal mailing machines 1 and 2 is that the need for bending of the envelope around a nip (such as nip 25 ) is avoided. Such bending of the flat envelope may introduce a risk that an envelope flap might open or become damaged.
  • envelopes are transported to the printing system via transport path 20, traveling at a nominal system transport velocity.
  • the nominal transport velocity is approximately 80 ips.
  • envelopes are separated and transported to the parallel mailing machines 1 and 2 by a path splitting module 3.
  • the input to the path splitting module 3 comprises two large diameter rollers 25 . Downstream of the input nip formed by the rollers 25 a flipper gate 26 has at least two positions to deflect envelopes into one of two alternate transport paths. In the embodiment shown, the two alternate transport paths are comprised of belts 27 supported and driven on sets of rollers 25 and 28 .
  • the flipper gate 26 alternately diverts the envelopes to the two alternate paths. This alternation may be controlled via a predetermined timing scheme, or by sensing a location of an envelope in the system.
  • the flipper gate 26 may switch positions after it is detected that a tail edge of an envelope has cleared the flipper. Alternatively flipper gate 26 may switch positions upon detecting that a next envelope is approaching.
  • rollers 25 forming the nip at the entrance to the path splitting module 3 be of a large diameter so that turning of the envelope into the alternate paths is gradual, and not so sharp as to damage the envelope.
  • the outer turning radius of rollers 25 thus form an oblique turning angle suitable for this purpose.
  • the same large diameter rollers are used.
  • the transports operate at the same nominal system velocity as the modules upstream and downstream of the parallel path printing arrangement.
  • the path splitting module 3 delivers the diverted envelopes to the respective parallel postage meters 1 and 2 .
  • a print motion control profile is executed upon them, as described in more detail below.
  • the envelopes are accelerated back to the nominal system velocity, and are output from the mailing machines 1 and 2 .
  • Merging module 4 Downstream of the mailing machines 1 and 2, the envelopes enter a merging module 4 .
  • Merging module 4 returns the envelopes from the alternate paths back to a single processing path.
  • the merging module transports the envelopes from the outputs of the parallel mailing machines towards one another.
  • a merge deflector 29 deflects the arriving envelopes from the two paths back into the single path formed by the nips at the output end of the merging module 4 .
  • Merging module 4 then feeds the single stream of envelopes at the nominal system velocity to downstream modules for further processing.
  • flipper gate 26 will send the envelopes to alternate paths that are above and below the plane of the envelope transport at the input to the system. In this preferred embodiment, space is conserved by placing the two mailing machines 1 and 2 one directly over the other. Similarly, for the vertical envelope embodiment, the mailing machines 1 and 2 are placed side-by-side.
  • a postage printing module 31 for use with the present invention may be a mechanical or digital printing device with corresponding transport and control mechanisms.
  • the features of print module 31 are accordingly described generically so as to be applicable to all such kinds of postage printing devices.
  • postage printing module 31 corresponds to mailing machines 1 and/or 2 of Fig. 2.
  • the upstream module 32 corresponds with the output of the path splitting module 3 .
  • the downstream module 33 corresponds with the input to the merge module 4 .
  • the modules use sets of upper and lower rollers 310, called nips, between which envelopes are driven in the flow direction.
  • rollers 310 are hard-nip rollers to minimize dither.
  • the transport mechanism may be comprised of belts supported and driven by sets of rollers 310 . The overlapping sets of conveyor belts provide the transport path between which envelopes are transported.
  • Print head 318 is preferably located at or near the output end of the print transport portion of the postage printing module 31 (see location C). To comply with postal regulations the print head 318 should be capable of printing an indicia at a resolution of 300 dots per inch (dpi). In an exemplary embodiment, the print head 318 is an ink jet print head capable of printing 300 dpi on media traveling at 50 ips. Alternatively, the print head 318 can be any type of print head, including those using other digital or mechanical technology, which may benefit from printing at a rate less than the system velocity.
  • rollers 310 for postage printing module 31 , and modules 32 and 33 are driven by electric motors 311, 312 , and 313 respectively.
  • Motors 311 , 312, and 313 are preferably independently controllable servomotors.
  • Motors 312 and 313 for upstream and downstream modules 32 and 33 drive their respective rollers 310 at a constant velocity, preferably at the desired nominal velocity for envelopes traveling in the system.
  • upstream and downstream modules 32 and 33 will transport envelopes at 80 ips in the flow direction.
  • Postage printing module motor 311 drives rollers 310 in the postage printing module 31 at varying speeds in order to provide lower velocity printing capabilities.
  • Postage printing module motor 311 is controlled by controller 314 which, in turn, receives sensor signals including signals from upstream sensor 315, downstream sensor 316, and trigger sensor 317 .
  • Sensors 315 and 316 are preferably used to detect the trailing edges of consecutive envelopes passing through the postage printing module 31 , and to verify that the printing motion control adjustment only occurs while a single envelope is within the postage printing module.
  • Trigger sensor 317 determines that an envelope to be printed with an indicia is in the appropriate position to trigger the beginning of the print motion control scheme described further below.
  • Sensors 315, 316, and 317 are preferably photo sensors that are capable of detecting leading and trailing edges of envelopes. The preferred positioning of the sensors, and the utilization of signals received from the sensors are discussed in more detail below.
  • One aspect of the system relates to the relative positioning of the transport mechanisms between postage printing module 31 and the other modules.
  • the location of the output of the transport for upstream module 31 is location A.
  • the location for the input to the print transport of postage printing module 31 is location B, and the output of the print transport mechanism for postage printing module 31 is location C.
  • the input for the transport of downstream module 33 is location D.
  • the transport mechanisms are nip rollers 310 for each of the modules. Accordingly locations A, B, C, and D correspond to the respective locations of input and output nip rollers 310 in that embodiment.
  • the modules may also include other rollers 310 at other locations, such as the set depicted in FIG. 3 between locations B and C.
  • the three nip rollers sets 310 in postage printing module 31 will be driven by motor 311. To maintain control over envelopes traveling through the system, consecutive distances between rollers 310 must be less than the shortest length envelope expected to be conveyed. In the preferred embodiment, it is expected that envelopes with a minimum length of 6.5" will be conveyed.
  • rollers 310 will preferably be spaced 6.0" apart, so that an envelope can be handed off between sets of rollers 310 without-giving up control transporting the envelope at any time.
  • the predetermined length of 6.0" between rollers in useful between modules, i.e., between 31 and 32, and between 31 and 33 , while it may be found to be beneficial to use lesser distances between rollers 310 within any one module.
  • Upstream sensor 315 is preferably located at or near location A, while downstream sensor 316 is preferably located at or near location C.
  • Trigger sensor 317 is preferably located upstream from print head 318 by a sufficient distance to permit deceleration of the print transport from the nominal transport velocity to the print velocity upon the detection of a lead envelope edge.
  • the trigger sensor 317 may be located any distance upstream from the minimum deceleration point, even as far upstream as upstream sensor 315, so long as the motion control profile determined by controller 314 is adjusted accordingly.
  • Controller 314 controls the motor 311 in accordance with a print motion control profile in order to achieve the goals of (1) reducing the speed of an envelope so that the low velocity print head 318 can print an indicia, and (2) controlling the motion of the envelopes so that consecutive envelopes to not interfere with each other.
  • FIG. 4 is a graph of velocities of the transport mechanisms for the postage meters 1 and 2 (or more generically print modules 31 ) in each of the parallel print paths. It can be seen that the parallel print modules 31 both have the same motion profiles, but offset from one another to reflect the different arrival times of the consecutive envelopes.
  • the motion control profiles for each of the parallel print modules 31 include transport velocity (V transport1 or V transport2 ) and a print velocity (V print1 or V print2 ).
  • the transport velocity is nominally 80 ips, while the print velocity is nominally 50 ips.
  • T period the period between envelopes reaching the same stage in their processing is approximately 200ms.
  • the flipper gate 26 switches position diverting an envelope to the print path different than the preceding envelope.
  • the envelope After an envelope has been diverted by flipper gate 26 to its respective parallel path, the envelope is transferred to the control of the print module. Upon reaching a trigger location within module 31, a printing motion profile is initiated. The timing of the trigger location is indicated at S trip in Fig. 4.
  • the triggering or tripping location at S trip may only occur after the tail end of the envelope has left the upstream module 32, as discussed with respect to Fig. 3 above. Since the first envelope is under the sole control of the print module 31, the print transport may slow down to allow the slower velocity printing. Controller 314 can begin the necessary deceleration by sensing the lead edge of the first envelope with the trigger sensor 317 . Alternatively, the deceleration can begin as a result of upstream sensor 315 detecting the tail end of the first envelope has left upstream module 32. In this alternate arrangement, the length of the print module 31 can be minimized because the low velocity print operation can be initiated and finished as soon as possible. Because conservation of floor space, or "footprint,” is typically important with a mail processing system, the preferred embodiment is designed to minimize the length of the device necessary.
  • the nips 310 of the print module 31 initiate a predetermined deceleration to reach the desired print velocity (V print1 or V Print2), in this case 50 ips.
  • the print transport then operates at 50 ips to transport the envelope a predetermined distance while an indicia is printed.
  • the print distance is four inches.
  • the tail end of the first envelope leaves the nips 310 at point B, and the envelope is under the exclusive control of the nips 310 at point C.
  • the lead edge of the first envelope reaches the first nip of the downstream module 33, at location D.
  • the first envelope is under the control of modules 31 and 33 and variations in the print transport speed are not permissible.
  • envelopes in the parallel print paths can be slowed for lower speed printing with no risk of a following envelope from closing the gap and colliding with the decelerated envelope. Since envelopes in the parallel paths undergo the same motion profiles, their relative spacing after being merged back together as it was prior to being split.
  • the exemplary motion profile described above complies with requirements necessary for a successful reduced velocity print. operation.
  • print module 31 when print speed adjustment is performed on an envelope, print module 31 must have total control of the envelope.
  • the envelope cannot reside between nip rollers 310 at location A or D during execution of the print motion control profile.
  • envelopes upstream and downstream of the envelope must be completely out of print module 31, i.e., they cannot reside anywhere between nip rollers 310 between locations B and C during the execution of the print motion profile.
  • print module 31 will only perform the print motion control profile (1) after the trail edge of the envelope has exited upstream module 32 at location A; and (2) after the trail edge of the downstream envelope has exited print module 31 .
  • print module 31 must complete the print motion control profile (1) before the lead edge of the upstream envelope has reached print module at location B; and (2) before the lead edge of the envelope has reached the downstream module 33 at location D.
  • the rate at which the print heads 318 prints the indicia can be electronically or mechanically geared to the speed of the print transports in the print modules 31. In such cases, under circumstances where the print transports are operating outside of nominal conditions, a correct size and resolution print image can be generated.
  • controller 314 and servomotor 311 are geared to the same velocity and timing signals to provide that the transport and printing are always in synchronism.
  • Another preferred embodiment of the present invention addresses a problem that occurs when the parallel print modules 31 are forced to deviate from the motion control profiles depicted in Fig. 4.
  • a problem that occurs when the parallel print modules 31 are forced to deviate from the motion control profiles depicted in Fig. 4.
  • upstream and downstream modules typically come to a halt in accordance with a uniform linear deceleration profile.
  • the postage printing modules have no mechanism for halting envelopes that are committed within the postage meter.
  • additional paper jams and damaged envelopes commonly occur as the postage printing module forces envelopes against a halted downstream module.
  • the print modules 31 will also decelerate to a stop upon the occurrence of stoppage conditions. Stoppage conditions occur upon detection of jams, detection that mail pieces are out of order, or detection of equipment malfunctions. Stoppage conditions also include routine starting and stopping of the inserter system in the midst of a mail production job. In the discussion below, examples are provided wherein-the stoppage condition is based on the occurrence of an error, or exception condition.
  • print head 318 is geared to the print transport motor 311
  • an envelope can be stopped anywhere in the print module 31 upon the occurrence of an exception event without damaging the envelopes, and without compromising the image to be printed on the envelope.
  • print module 31 can be accelerated back to the velocities in accordance with the motion profiles depicted in Fig. 4.
  • a uniform linear deceleration and acceleration during an exception condition is preferred for the upstream and downstream modules 32 and 33 .
  • a deceleration and acceleration having that same uniform linear profile may cause problems in print module 31. For example, if a print transport was about to reach the printing portion of the motion profile of Fig. 4 when the exception condition occurred, the print transport could decelerate down to zero velocity in a linear fashion the same as modules 32 and 33. However, after the exception condition has been cleared, the envelope in the print module 31 will be closer to the downstream module 33 than it would have been if the normal motion profile had been executed. This is because during the uniform deceleration, the print module 31 has essentially skipped a portion of the motion profile.
  • the present invention maintains the expected displacements between consecutive documents by controlling the transport of envelopes in print modules 31 as a function of the displacement positions of upstream and/or downstream modules.
  • the variations in velocity that result from the stoppage and starting in an exception condition should not affect the relative spacing of the envelopes.
  • the velocity variables will be eliminated, and positions of the transports expressed in terms of variable displacements and known constants.
  • the desired displacements of the print modules 31, as they would have resulted from performance of the motion profile under nominal conditions, must be describable in terms of the position of upstream or downstream modules. Also, the descriptions must be expressed in terms of the displacement relationships that would have resulted from the distinct segments in the motion profile.
  • print module 32 must decelerate more quickly than upstream module 32 in order that the shortening of the gap between envelopes in those modules be preserved.
  • controller 314 of print module 31 can adjust the displacement of print module 31 when an envelope is present at a location where it normally would undergo the deceleration portion of the motion profile.
  • the appropriate displacement relationship may change while the print module 31 is decelerating to a stop.
  • an envelope that is slightly upstream of trigger sensor 317 , and traveling at the transport velocity, may begin to stop in accordance with the displacement relationship described in equation [1], above.
  • the envelope may reach the trigger position marked sensor 317 .
  • controller 314 will switch the displacement relationship to that described in equation [4] above.
  • displacement may be controlled in accordance equation [5] above.
  • the print head may begin printing a portion of the image on the envelope before it stops.
  • the geared print head will also resume printing at the appropriate geared speed.
  • a final segment of the motion profile is the acceleration of the envelope from the print velocity, back to the transport velocity.
  • the displacement mapping relationship for this segment can be derived in the same way as for equation [4] above.
  • a difference in the result being that this acceleration segment is causing an envelope in the print module 31 to increase its distance from a subsequent envelope in upstream module 32.
  • Displacement information for respective print, upstream, and downstream modules 31, 32, and 33 may typically be monitored via encoders in motors 311, 312, and 313.
  • the encoders register the mechanical movement of the module transports and report the displacements to controller 314 for appropriate use by controller 314 to maintain correct displacement mapping between the modules.
  • the parallel print modules 31 are decelerating and accelerating at different times, as seen in Fig. 4.
  • the calculations and controls discussed above for regulating displacements during a stoppage condition must be performed separately for each print module 31.
  • FIG. 5 an alternative embodiment for the parallel path print system in Fig. 2 is depicted as parallel print module 51.
  • the printing mechanisms have been more directly integrated with the parallel path transports.
  • parallel print module 51 is more suitable for systems that are not attempting to utilize "off the shelf' mailing machines. Rather, the print transports in this embodiment also serve as part of the mechanism for splitting the transport path.
  • a smaller digital print head 505 is used for printing postage indicia. The print motion control for this embodiment is the same as that discussed above with respect to Figs. 2-4.
  • nip rollers 52 feed envelopes to the parallel print module 51.
  • nip rollers 52 are at the same location A, at the downstream end of an upstream module 32, as depicted in Fig. 3.
  • a flipper gate 501 alternately diverts envelopes into one of two parallel printing paths 53 or 54. In comparison to the embodiment in Fig. 2, it can be seen that this arrangement eliminates the need for the path splitting module 3 and the merge module 4 .
  • the transports for the parallel printing paths are comprised of belt pairs 502 driven and supported by rollers 503.
  • a nip contact for transporting envelopes is formed by the contact between a portion of a belt 502 and an offset roller 503.
  • the motion profile control for the envelopes is the same as that described above, i.e ., decelerating the envelope to a print velocity, performing a print operation for on a predetermined length of envelope, and accelerating back to the system transport velocity.
  • Print heads 505 are located proximally to a downstream end of the printing paths 53 and 54. Also, as discussed above, in the preferred embodiment the print heads 505 are electronically geared to operate in synchronism with -their respective transports.
  • a merge deflector 507 guides the envelopes out of the print mechanisms to a downstream set of nip rollers 55.
  • nip rollers 55 are at location D, at the upstream end of an downstream module 33 as depicted in Fig. 3.
  • Fig. 6 depicts a preferred manner in which belts 502 grip envelopes in the printing system.
  • Belts 502 grip envelopes lengthwise along their lower portions, so as to leave a print region 60 exposed for the print head 505 to print an indicia.
  • This arrangement of Fig. 6 is preferred for systems transporting envelopes in horizontal or vertical orientations.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)
  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)
EP03018693A 2002-08-22 2003-08-22 Parallel verarbeitendes Hochgeschwindigkeits-Drucksystem für ein Kuvertiersystem Expired - Lifetime EP1391849B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US226744 2002-08-22
US10/226,744 US7099039B2 (en) 2002-08-22 2002-08-22 Parallel processing high speed printing system for an inserting system

Publications (2)

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EP1391849A1 true EP1391849A1 (de) 2004-02-25
EP1391849B1 EP1391849B1 (de) 2007-01-31

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EP (1) EP1391849B1 (de)
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Cited By (2)

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EP1612051A1 (de) * 2004-06-30 2006-01-04 Xerox Corporation Flexibler Papierweg unter Verwendung von multidirektionellen Baugruppen
EP1895477A1 (de) * 2006-08-31 2008-03-05 Neopost Technologies Zuführlinie von Briefumschlägen im Schnelltakt, die eine Frankiermaschine umfasst

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JP2004358799A (ja) * 2003-06-04 2004-12-24 Canon Inc キャリッジ駆動制御方法
DE102006029728A1 (de) * 2006-06-28 2008-01-03 Siemens Ag Sendungssortieranlage
US7631869B2 (en) * 2007-02-27 2009-12-15 Bowe Bell + Howell Company System and method for gap length measurement and control
EP2275373B1 (de) * 2009-07-16 2012-12-26 Müller Martini Holding AG Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum kontinuierlichen Zusammenführen von zumindest zwei Schuppenströmen flächiger Druckprodukte
JP6214101B2 (ja) * 2015-03-25 2017-10-18 富士フイルム株式会社 画像形成装置、及び画像形成方法
US9827798B2 (en) 2015-05-15 2017-11-28 Fluence Automation Llc Assemblies, systems, and methods for applying postage indicia to one or more mailpiece on a high speed mail sorter
EP3217363B1 (de) 2016-03-09 2021-05-19 Fluence Automation LLC Anordnungen, systeme und verfahren zum frankieren eines oder mehrerer sequentieller poststücke auf einem hochgeschwindigkeits-postsortierer

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WO1996032293A1 (de) * 1995-04-11 1996-10-17 Grapha-Holding Ag Verfahren und vorrichtung zum bearbeiten von druckereierzeugnissen
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EP1895477A1 (de) * 2006-08-31 2008-03-05 Neopost Technologies Zuführlinie von Briefumschlägen im Schnelltakt, die eine Frankiermaschine umfasst

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE60311546D1 (de) 2007-03-22
US20040036893A1 (en) 2004-02-26
CA2437689A1 (en) 2004-02-22
DE60311546T2 (de) 2007-10-25
EP1391849B1 (de) 2007-01-31
US7099039B2 (en) 2006-08-29
CA2437689C (en) 2008-05-13

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